Many people believe that eating healthy foods, avoiding fried items, and controlling calories are sufficient for good health. However, according to traditional Eastern Medicine expert Chee Hee Seng from Malaysia, if you think "eating clean" is the pinnacle of health, it is merely a basic step in true holistic wellness.

Expert Seng states that people in the East have historically not only focused on nutrition but also deeply understood the "energy" and "thermal properties" of food.

Below are five habits they consistently avoid to maintain a robust digestive system (spleen and stomach):

Overeating

The first habit to avoid is eating more than necessary. Expert Seng shares, "An adequate amount of food nourishes the body and supports energy. Conversely, overeating burdens the stomach and weakens the digestive system in the long run."

The key is to eat just enough to satisfy hunger, rather than consuming food until you can no longer eat.

Lack of physical activity

In traditional Eastern Medicine, there is a concept known as "Ty chu tu chi", meaning the spleen (ty) governs the strength of the limbs. When you regularly exercise your limbs, you indirectly strengthen a healthy appetite and help the digestive system function more smoothly.

Overconsumption of cold beverages

This is a common habit among many modern individuals but is highly restricted in East Asian wellness practices. "Even Japanese people do not drink cold matcha daily; they prioritize warm drinks because they know matcha itself has a cooling property," Seng explains.

Consuming too many cold foods and drinks harms the "vi khi" (stomach energy). Specifically, because the spleen and stomach are considered the "mother" of the respiratory system, poor digestion will also weaken your respiratory system and immunity.

Eating too late at night

The stomach also needs rest at night to recover its function for the following day. If you eat late, the stomach must work through the night, lacking time for regeneration, which leads to digestive dysfunction due to overwork.

Indulging in "extreme" foods

This category includes foods with overly intense flavors or preparation methods, such as those that are excessively spicy, sweet, sour, or heavily fried. A balanced diet requires diversity in energetic properties.

For instance, mint has a cooling property, while ginger is warming. Harmonizing these properties is key to keeping the body in balance, rather than pursuing only one flavor profile.

Gut health from an East Asian perspective is not just about which foods we choose, but how we interact with them according to the body's biological rhythm. Changing even small habits, such as drinking warm water instead of iced water, can make a significant difference for your digestive "machine".

My Y (According to Hindustan Times)